Groups from the Illinois Valley area, including LaSalle, Peru, Streator, Spring Valley, and Princeton have come together in an effort to attract jobs and businesses to the area. The group hopes to form the new Economic Development Corporation (EDC) of North Central Illinois in order to reach out to investors and businesses and bring them to the region. Rather than battle each other about who would get businesses in their city, the group would work together to get the company to commit to the area first, and later sort out which city will provide the actual location. The joint venture would help the groups to compete with agencies, cities and areas that might be better funded. If the EDC group is officially established, it will take office space at Illinois Valley Community College and hire a team to work exclusively on the project.

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